Your search found 9 records
1 Diskin, M. H.; Kessler, A.. 1992. Improving detention reservoir efficiency by a parallel drain design. Water Resources Research, 28(8):2005-2010.
(Location: IWMI-HQ Call no: PER Record No: H011215)
2 Ago, H.; Kessler, A.. 1995. The participatory planning approach to confront land degradation in Latin America. In Japanese Institute of Irrigation and Drainage, Proceedings of the Tokyo Symposium on Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development: Agriculture for our planet, Tokyo, Japan, 27-29 November 1995. pp.87-98.
Land management ; Participatory management ; Watershed management ; Soil management / Latin America / Chile / Bolivia / Argentina / Brazil / Paraguay
(Location: IWMI-HQ Call no: 338.1 G000 JAP Record No: H017983)
3 Kronaveter, L.; Shamir, U.; Kessler, A.. 2001. Water-sensitive urban planning: Modeling on-site infiltration. Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, 127(2):78-88.
Simulation models ; Urbanization ; Planning ; Infiltration ; Rainfall-runoff relationships ; Groundwater / Israel
(Location: IWMI-HQ Call no: PER Record No: H027732)
4 Kessler, A.. 2003. Economic strategies of different cropping systems in urban and periurban agriculture in West Africa. Urban Agriculture Magazine, 9:30-31.
Urbanization ; Agricultural economics ; Cropping systems ; Women ; Irrigated farming ; Agricultural credit ; Rain-fed farming ; Vegetables / West Africa
(Location: IWMI-HQ Call no: P 6353 Record No: H032359)
5 Kessler, A.; Streiffeler, F.; Obuobie, Emmanuel. 2004. Women in urban agriculture in West Africa. Urban Agriculture Magazine, 12:16-17.
(Location: IWMI-HQ Call no: P 6985 Record No: H035260)
http://www.ruaf.org/sites/default/files/Women%20in%20UA%20in%20West%20Africa.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H_35260.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H_35260.pdf
(79.21 KB)
6 Adimassu, Zenebe; Kessler, A.. 2015. Impact of the productive safety net program on farmers 'investments in sustainable land management in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia. Environmental Development, 16:54-62. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envdev.2015.06.015]
Land management ; Sustainability ; Farmers ; Investment ; Food security ; Productivity ; Households ; Soil fertility ; Erosion ; Inorganic fertilizers ; Composts ; Capacity building ; Labor ; Case studies / Ethiopia / Central Rift Valley
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H047113)
(0.79 MB)
This study assesses the impact of the Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) on farmers' investments in sustainable land management (SLM) practices in the Central Rift Valley (CRV) of Ethiopia. Primary data were collected using a structured and pre-tested questionnaire for a sample of 159 households (82 PSNP participants and 77 non-participants) in four kebeles (the lowest administrative unit in Ethiopia) of two weredas (districts). Using a cross-sectional household survey, propensity score matching (PSM) was used to assess the impact of PSNP on households' investments in soil erosion control and soil fertility management. The PSM results show that the control group of households (non-participants in PSNP) invested more in soil erosion control measures as compared to the treated group of households (participants in PSNP). On the contrary, however, the treated group of households significantly invested more in soil fertility management practices (e.g. inorganic fertilizer and compost) as compared to the control group of households. The negative impact of PSNP on households’ investments in soil erosion control in the treated group of farmers is related to their high labor investment in public works, which is not the case for the non-participants in PSNP. This implies that PSNP should pay more attention to capacity building and awareness raising, which requires a restructuring of the program that would benefit long-term and more sustainable impact on reducing food insecurity and enhancing natural resources in the CRV of Ethiopia.
7 Adimassu, Zenebe; Kessler, A.. 2016. Factors affecting farmers’ coping and adaptation strategies to perceived trends of declining rainfall and crop productivity in the central Rift valley of Ethiopia. Environmental Systems Research, 5(1):1-16. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40068-016-0065-2]
Crop production ; Crop yield ; Rift valleys ; Farmer participation ; Adaptation ; Rain ; Rainfed farming ; Land ownership ; Households / Ethiopia
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H047531)
(1.39 MB)
Background: Farmers apply several and often different farmer-specific strategies to cope with and adapt to the perceived trend of declining rainfall and crop productivity. A better understanding of the factors affecting farmers’ coping and adaptation strategies to counteract both trends is crucial for policies and programs that aim at promoting successful rainfed agriculture in Ethiopia. The objective of this study was to identify the major factors that affect farmers’ coping and adaption strategies to rainfall variability and reduction in crop yield in the central Rift valley (CRV) of Ethiopia. A survey was conducted among 240 randomly selected farmers within six kebeles in the CRV using structured and pretested questionnaires. Multivariate probit (MVP) regression model was used to identify these key factors that affect farmers’ coping and adaptation strategies to the declining trends of rainfall and crop productivity.
Results: Generally, this study identified several factors that affect farmers’ choices of certain strategies, which can be grouped in four major factors: (1) livestock and landholdings, (2) availability of labour and knowledge, (3) access to information, and (4) social and cultural factors. Farmers with better resources, labour, knowledge, access to information and social capital had better coping and adaptation strategies to the declining rainfall and crop productivity.
Conclusions: To conclude, improving farmers’ asset accumulation, access to information and knowledge are needed. Moreover, strengthening social capital and labour sharing institutions in the CRV is crucial to increase farmers’ capacities to cope with and adapt to environmental changes such as rainfall and crop yield variability.
Results: Generally, this study identified several factors that affect farmers’ choices of certain strategies, which can be grouped in four major factors: (1) livestock and landholdings, (2) availability of labour and knowledge, (3) access to information, and (4) social and cultural factors. Farmers with better resources, labour, knowledge, access to information and social capital had better coping and adaptation strategies to the declining rainfall and crop productivity.
Conclusions: To conclude, improving farmers’ asset accumulation, access to information and knowledge are needed. Moreover, strengthening social capital and labour sharing institutions in the CRV is crucial to increase farmers’ capacities to cope with and adapt to environmental changes such as rainfall and crop yield variability.
8 Grum, B; Hessel, R.; Kessler, A.; Woldearegay, K.; Yazew, E.; Ritsema, C.; Geissen, V. 2016. A decision support approach for the selection and implementation of water harvesting techniques in arid and semi-arid regions. Agricultural Water Management, 173:35-47. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2016.04.018]
Water harvesting ; Techniques ; Indicators ; Decision support systems ; Arid zones ; Semiarid zones ; Watersheds ; Socioeconomic environment ; Ecological factors ; Biophysics ; Cultivated land ; Soils ; Rain ; GIS ; Mapping ; Stakeholders ; Case studies / Ethiopia / Upper Geba Watershed
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H047605)
(3.70 MB)
Water harvesting techniques (WHTs) improve the availability of water, which is essential for growing crops, especially in arid and semi-arid areas. A decision support approach can help in the selection of WHTs suitable under site-specific bio-physical and socio-economic conditions. This paper describes a participatory approach for the selection of suitable WHTs in watersheds in (semi) arid regions. It builds on a database of suitability indicators for WHTs, which was developed by integrating worldwide knowledge on their suitability. Once developed, the approach was applied on a case study for WHTs in the upper Geba watershed in northern Ethiopia. First, based on evaluation criteria and participants’ scientific and local knowledge, a pre-selection of most promising WHTs took place in a multi-stakeholder workshop. Next, the suitability indicators and a GIS-based multi-criteria analysis (MCA) were used to identify suitable areas for these WHTs. The results of the MCA were presented to stakeholders during a second stakeholder workshop. At this workshop, a final selection of WHTs to test was made based on a participatory ranking of WHTs using economic, ecological and socio-cultural criteria. The MCA approach was validated by comparing the predicted suitable areas with the already existing WHTs in the watershed. This led to the result that 90% of the existing check dams and 93% of the percolation ponds were correctly identified by the approach. We conclude therefore that this approach can be successfully applied for the participatory selection of WHTs and the identification of suitable areas for their implementation. Given that this approach is based on the newly developed database of WHTs, it can be easily applied in other (semi) arid regions.
9 Assefa, S.; Kessler, A.; Fleskens, L. 2021. Exploring decision-making in campaign-based watershed management by using a role-playing game in Boset District, Ethiopia. Agricultural Systems, 190:103124. (Online first) [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2021.103124]
Watershed management ; Decision making ; Farmers ; Collective action ; Soil conservation ; Water conservation ; Strategies ; Awareness ; Learning ; Land cover ; Farmland ; Common lands ; Sustainability ; Income / Ethiopia / Boset / Ararso-Bero / Sara-Areda / Qachachule-Guja
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050298)
(1.93 MB)
CONTEXT
The sustainability of the ongoing national Campaign-Based Watershed Management (CBWM) program in Ethiopia is questionable due to poor planning and implementation practices.
OBJECTIVE
This study analyzes farmers' decision-making in the CBWM program, and mutual learning and collective decisions among local actors in Boset District - Ethiopia.
METHODS
Role-Playing Game (RPG) was the main method of the study. In order to collect pertinent information during the game sessions, observation of farmers' behavior and group discussions were used. Descriptive statistics and qualitative analysis were employed to analyze game outputs.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS
Results show that farmers prefer to collectively work on private farmlands rather than on communal land. Furthermore, participation of farmers in campaign works was higher under a default-scenario (with control instruments), than under a willingness-scenario (without control instruments). In making decisions on their level of participation in campaign works, farmers followed the decisions of a fellow farmer they considered more knowledgeable. However, the participation of farmers in the maintenance of Soil and Water Conservation (SWC) structures was more or less the same under both scenarios. Both farmers' level of participation in campaign works and maintenance decisions were influenced by their proximity to the CBWM intervention areas (i.e. micro-watersheds) as well as their awareness and motivation. The commitment of local government actors was also crucial to enforce and encourage the farmers to participate in the program. Based on farmers' decisions in the RPG, none of the two scenarios simultaneously enhance the total land area covered with SWC structures and income of farmers. An important benefit of this game was that it stimulated mutual learning and collective decisions on micro-watersheds to be treated and alternative management strategies for the CBWM program. This revealed that there is a need to (1) motivate farmers through capacity building, (2) enhance the commitment of local government actors, and (3) introduce participatory planning to enhance mutual learning and collective decisions for sustainable watershed management.
SIGNIFICANCE
While directly applicable to the study area, these recommendations and the RPG (as a toolkit) are essential to enhance the outcomes and sustainability of collective watershed management initiatives in other parts of the world.
The sustainability of the ongoing national Campaign-Based Watershed Management (CBWM) program in Ethiopia is questionable due to poor planning and implementation practices.
OBJECTIVE
This study analyzes farmers' decision-making in the CBWM program, and mutual learning and collective decisions among local actors in Boset District - Ethiopia.
METHODS
Role-Playing Game (RPG) was the main method of the study. In order to collect pertinent information during the game sessions, observation of farmers' behavior and group discussions were used. Descriptive statistics and qualitative analysis were employed to analyze game outputs.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS
Results show that farmers prefer to collectively work on private farmlands rather than on communal land. Furthermore, participation of farmers in campaign works was higher under a default-scenario (with control instruments), than under a willingness-scenario (without control instruments). In making decisions on their level of participation in campaign works, farmers followed the decisions of a fellow farmer they considered more knowledgeable. However, the participation of farmers in the maintenance of Soil and Water Conservation (SWC) structures was more or less the same under both scenarios. Both farmers' level of participation in campaign works and maintenance decisions were influenced by their proximity to the CBWM intervention areas (i.e. micro-watersheds) as well as their awareness and motivation. The commitment of local government actors was also crucial to enforce and encourage the farmers to participate in the program. Based on farmers' decisions in the RPG, none of the two scenarios simultaneously enhance the total land area covered with SWC structures and income of farmers. An important benefit of this game was that it stimulated mutual learning and collective decisions on micro-watersheds to be treated and alternative management strategies for the CBWM program. This revealed that there is a need to (1) motivate farmers through capacity building, (2) enhance the commitment of local government actors, and (3) introduce participatory planning to enhance mutual learning and collective decisions for sustainable watershed management.
SIGNIFICANCE
While directly applicable to the study area, these recommendations and the RPG (as a toolkit) are essential to enhance the outcomes and sustainability of collective watershed management initiatives in other parts of the world.
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